Studying conspiracy beliefs itself triggers defensive backlash from believers.

Evidence

For such inflamed responses, one might think that the scholars above had presented disconfirming evidence against a specific conspiracy theory. None had. No inquiry into conspiratorial beliefs is rigorous or dispassion­ ate enough that it does not trigger a fusillade of defense mechanisms. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 154

Categorization

• XREF: connects to: Unfounded beliefs fade over time but reason is a thin crust over passion. — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 262; Studying conspiracy theories does not itself confer conspiratorial skill — Joseph E. Uscinski and Joseph M. Parent, American Conspiracy Theories, 22; Correcting conspiracy misinformation can backfire and entrench the false belief. — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying: The New…, 119 (+4 more)

Broader Connections

• Correcting conspiracy misinformation can backfire and entrench the false belief. #corroborates (0.85) — Russell Muirhead and Nancy L. Rosenblum, A Lot of People Are Saying, 119
• Aggressive rebuttals can push curious people toward pseudo-scientific views #corroborates (0.80) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 295
• Refuting someone’s core beliefs on facts is often perceived as a personal attack #corroborates (0.80) — Holm Gero Hümmler, Ulrike Schiesser, Fact and Prejudice, 223